Keeping Spiritual Momentum

After returning from a great Ministry Conference, The Gathering of Wesleyan Leaders in Jacksonville last week, I have heard many people ask: "How to we keep or sustain this spiritual momentum?" How do we pass it on?

I have found an old outline I used several years ago and want to share it with you. Actually, many of the thoughts come from Purpose Driven Life and some personal thoughts. Let me know your thoughts...How do you keep pumped up about serving God?

KEEPING YOUR SPIRITUAL MOMENTUM

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven." Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)

How Do I Sustain Spiritual Momentum?

1. I will find strength from those who have gone on before me

"Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us." Romans 15:4a (Msg)

-What person of faith and godliness can strengthen my walk? Is it a bible character?

-Is it a person from your past? I personally have about 4 or five people that have passed on to heaven that I think about that gives me strength and encouragement as I serve.

-PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I remember a lady in West Virginia that had been a great influence on me that was on her death bed. Her family called and I drove 3 hours to see her. She asked me if I could do her funeral. I responded by telling her that her pastor is out in the lobby and she should be asking him about the upcoming funeral. Her response was: "I already asked him and he said he couldn't do it without weeping." She wanted someone who would lead a celebration...I find strength from this experience.

2. I will put off that which cause me to stumble

* Let go of the UNGODLY

* Let go of the UNNECESSARY

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [4] No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer." 2 Tim. 2:3-4 (NIV)

In order to finish well, I need to let go of _________________________________________

3. I will ENDURE and PERSEVERE hardships and persecution until I cross the finish line.

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Cor. 15:58 (NIV)

4. I will keep a clear and single minded focus.

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Philippians 3:8 (NIV)

In order to stay single-minded through the Christmas season, I will _______________________________________

5. I will endure this life so I can see the smile of God in eternity

"I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." Philippians 3:14 (NLT)

I am able to endure the present because I know someday

_______________________________________

"So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up." Hebrews 12:3 (CEV)

Have I Followed God This Year?

· QUOTE: Discipleship brings God’s blessing-Disobedience brings God’s discipline

HUMOR-- One day a police officer stopped a driver. The police officer said, “Since you were wearing your seat belt, you win $5000, what are you going to do with the money?”
The man said, “I’m going to get me a driver’s license.”
The lady next to him said, “Don’t listen to him officer, he always talks crazy when he’s drunk!”
The loud talking woke the guy in the back seat. When he saw the police he said, “I knew we wouldn’t get far with this stolen car!”
Then the police heard a voice from the trunk and in Spanish, the voice said, “Are we over the border yet?”

· Are there any LAWS that you have trouble keeping? No respecting? Rebellious?

-What about this seat belt business? I used to have a personal problem with the seat belt law...I used to try to "get by" on short trips without it.
Now that I think about it, it does not take much time to reach down and fasten the seat belt! Perhaps, it was my upbringing coming out, having a dislike for governmental control over my life?

Do you gladly wear yours? Some people just don’t want to be bothered even though the law requires us to buckle up. “Click it or ticket.”

ILL.- According to the Associated Press, a New Zealander named Ivan Segedin took it to an extreme. The police ticketed him 32 times over five years for failing to use his seat belt. Even though this was costing him big money, Segedin refused to buckle up. Finally, instead of obeying the law, the man decided to rely on deception. He made a fake seat belt that would hang over his shoulder and make it appear that he was wearing a seat belt when he was not.
His trick worked for a while. Then, he had a head-on collision. He was thrown forward onto the steering wheel and killed.

That man’s disobedience caused his death, but disobedience to God can cause even more trouble and a worse death!

Romans 8:7 “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

· The person who lives in sin and for sin does not and will not submit to God and will eventually pay the penalty for that lack of submission.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-What about Christian people? Must we submit to God in obedience? WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Are you following God? Are you a disciple? Pre-Christians are watching us, the Church of Jesus. When they follow us, let us make sure they are following the past that Jesus trod!

My prayer is that I will be more obedient this year to follow God's will more closely as I have learned that the best life comes from following Jesus very closely!

God bless you as you check out this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzLhQK8A25Q

Everybody is a Somebody-Just Ask the Shepherds

The Christmas season reminds us over and over the true meaning and purpose that God intended it to be?

Have you ever gotten to the place where you needed to be reminded about what Christmas is all about? Charlie Brown was one of those guys...watch this 90 second video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

What really excites me about Christmas is that Everybody is a Somebody to God! Look who he used: Joseph and Mary, ordinary people who really wanted to live a quiet life and then we see the Shepherds receiving the news from the angels that Jesus is in a manger in Bethlehem...these misfits received the news FIRST!! Who were these Shepherds? Here are some thoughts:

1. The Shepherds were a fellowship of the forgettable.

a. They had no status in their culture.

b. They were uneducated, smelled lousy, and were considered low-class.

c. During Jesus’ time, being a shepherd was a dead-end job.

d. There was no hope for advancement.

e. They had little chance of doing anything different the rest of their life.

f. As a result, you wouldn’t want your daughter to marry one. You would want your daughter to marry better.

2. The Shepherds were people that were considered outcasts and misfits.

a. Shepherds had a hard, thankless job and it was dangerous.

b. It was their responsibility to protect the sheep from robbers and wild animals.

c. They were not considered very important.

d. As far as spiritual matters, they were considered unclean and they couldn’t participate in feasts and holy days.

e. In regard to society matters, shepherds were infamous for thievery so they were not permitted to give testimony in legal proceedings.

Here is what Max Lucado says about God choosing the Shepherds:

MAX LUCADO: “The announcement of Christmas went first to the shepherds. They didn’t ask God is he was sure he knew what he was doing.

Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries

Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching.

Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.

SO He went to the shepherds. Men who didn’t have a reputation to protect or an axe to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn’t know enough to tell God that angels don’t sing to sheep and that messiahs aren’t found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.

---SO, While the theologians were sleeping; the elite were dreaming; the successful were snoring; the meek were kneeling in front of Baby Jesus

Are you excited that God shows us once again that every one of us are important to His plan and purpose?

You are special; live out your purpose like the Shepherds! You are a somebody to God!

Thanksgiving

I have been up early this morning working on a sermon/outline to preach at Arial Baptist Church on Tuesday evening. Our congregation, United Wesleyan and Arial Baptist joins together each year for a Thanksgiving worship service. It starts at 7 PM on Tuesday, November 23. Join us if you can and bring a friend:

Here are some thoughts that I am working on:

Ephesians 5:19-20--"Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1. Many times we lose perspective and cannot give God thanks during "valley times"....I think about the young lady that sent a note home to her mom from college:

"Dear Mom: Sorry I haven’t written sooner. My arm really has been broken. I broke it, and my left leg, when I jumped from he second floor of my dormitory...when we had the fire. We were lucky. A young service station attendant saw the blaze and called the Fire Department. They were there in minutes. I was in the hospital for a few days. Paul, the service station attendant, came to see me every day. And because it was taking so long to get our dormitory liveable again, I moved in with him. He has been so nice. I must admit that I am pregnant. Paul and I plan to get married just as soon as he can get a divorce. I hope things are fine at home. I’m doing fine, and will write more when I get the chance. Love,
Your daughter, Susie

P.S. None of the above is true. But I did get a "C" in Sociology and flunked Chemistry. I just wanted you to receive this news in its "Proper Perspective!"

2. There are things that steal away our thankfulness: Pride, Complaining, Neglecting to praise God

3. In reading a devotion by Greg Laurie this morning, I came across this reminder: http://www.harvest.org/devotional/archive/devotion/2010-11-22.html

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy.

God help me to be thankful not only this week but each day as I depend and rely on your grace, strength and power to guide me!

Just a thought!

Biblical Definition of HATE

Biblical HATE

1Jn 2:11- But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness…

What is this thing that proves we are in darkness? You might say, “I don’t hate anyone in here. Well, yeah, there are a few people who get on my nerves from time to time. But I wouldn’t say I ‘hate’ them.”

Well maybe not- at least not by our definition of hate, but how about by God’s definition?

Part of my sermon at United is about being in DARKNESS...1 John 2:7-11

John mentions that "hating your brother" is a reason why many are still in darkness. I woke up this morning thinking about that word: Hate....Here is what I am finding.

• 1 John 2:11 ho de mison tonadelfon …

Hate- miseo

Meaning: of malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others, whether towards the innocent or by mutual animosity… Note:In 1 John 3:15, he who "hates" his brother is called a murderer; for the sin lies in the inward disposition, of which the act is only the outward expression.

Here are some thoughts I have this morning:

1. Hate is when we stop holding another’s welfare at heart.

2. Hate is when we simply don’t care; hate is when we justify breaking the unity.

3. Hate is when my thing is more important than your thing.

4. If we hate, God says we are liars and murders waiting to stumble. And even our very best won’t last. Hate kills harmony. Hate kills inspiration. Hate kills others. Hate is suicide.

***But when we agape-love, we are in God’s light. And that light is so bright we can see exactly where we are going- and you know what- we will be going exactly where we need to go.

Have you given much thought to what hatred really is? I pray right now that God will help me to understand what true hatred is and what true love is. Help me Lord, in Jesus name!

If Jesus came to your church, what would you do?

I asked a question this week to our congregation: "What if Jesus came to our church for the next 52 weeks to worship in body with us? What would you do? How would we act?"

My hypothetical answer was:

1. We would probably worship with more fervor, which means no falling asleep, no dozing off, etc. We certainly wouldn't want to be caught falling asleep when Christ is in the house!

2. We would probably sit closer to the front of the church if that is where He sat. We would want to be noted that we wanted to be close to Him.

3. Being that He knows all things we would probably give a full tithe and perhaps a little offering to missions?

4. We might want to tell someone we are sorry for avoiding them since Jesus is all about forgiveness. I mean, who could walk from the church building with hatred brewing for one of God's creatures when we know He forgave us of our awful rebellion?

5. Perhaps we would volunteer for nursery duty?

So, I asked these questions and followed with a fact: Jesus is ALWAYS here with us! So, we might as well quit playing this game and realize that He deserves our best worship, our best offering, our best service, our love for His people...

Is Christ in your church? If so, give Him your best...don't wait until He physically shows up because He is there already...enjoy the poem below:

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -

If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have him there -
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

Lois Blanchard Eades

Sometimes we just miss out!

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t428

I HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT!!!

This past Saturday, 30 friends from United Wesleyan's Men's Ministry went to a Greenville Drive baseball game.

Well, I really wanted to be with my friends for fellowship, bonding and just to hang out. Several of us at at Golden Corral before going to the ball field.

Now you have to understand, baseball was always a sport that I find very boring, slow and non-entertaining. To make a long story short: BASEBALL HAS CHANGED!

I used to think this same thing about the sport of golf; why would anyone find it interesting try to get a ball into a hole 500 yards away? Now, one golf membership later, it is my favorite pastime (I emphasize pastime! I am in no way consistent enough to compete but love the sport!)

Anyway, we got to the ballgame and I was captivated by the excitement, enthusiasm and overall atmosphere. The entertainment between innings was just great. Gymnastic teams, clowns, dancing to the music, the crowd clapping in chorus, etc...

I was even more captivated by the efforts of these young men (baseball players) as they performed and try to work their way up into the majors.

Needless to say, I was convinced that a Greenville Drive baseball game is an awesome place to take your family and just relax....I am going back real soon...hopefully when the WV Power minor league team comes to town!

My question is:

1. What are you missing in life because of some mindset? Something happened in your past to dampen the thought of trying again?

2. Pastors and Ministers: Are you trying to draw people in to church, to Christ today like you did it twenty years ago? Bring some excitement with your message of salvation....

Just Tim with a thought! (and a lesson learned...I have been missing out on some good baseball!)